Djokovic improved his season record to a superb 56-1, clinching the match after Monfils hammered a forehand into the net.

He was made to work for the win as the Frenchman started quickly, hitting four aces to take the first set.

Sixth seed Monfils continued his stellar play in the second set, breaking Djokovic’s serve in the sixth game, but Djokovic eventually came through, advancing to the semi-finals where he will face Berdych.

The Czech claimed the third victory over Federer in a row and, despite playing with a sore shoulder, took full advantage of his opponent who has been struggling with his groundstrokes.

Fish, who zinged a cross-court forehand past Nadal to seal his first victory over the Spaniard in seven attempts, next faces World No. 4 Andy Murray, who cruised past France’s Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-3.

Nadal had battled through three tiebreakers over three and a half hours to beat Fernando Verdasco a day earlier.

He was also playing with two burned fingertips of his right hand heavily taped. However, Nadal was not making any excuses.

“It was a little bit unlucky week for me with the burned fingers and with the very long match yesterday,” Nadal said.

“I don’t have a lot of feeling when I threw the ball with the right hand, and to play with the backhand, too. I lost because Mardy played much better than me,” he said.

Fish made the most of his opportunity, saving all four break points he faced as he avenged a quarter-final loss to Nadal at Wimbledon.

The Spaniard got off to a sluggish start, his winners scarce amid an uncharacteristic display, which featured 20 unforced errors.

WOMEN’S SINGLES

On the women’s side, fourth seed Maria Sharapova rolled into the semi-finals for the second straight year, beating Australian Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-2.

“I played a really great match and did many good things today which caused her trouble,” Sharapova said.

“I was aggressive. I didn’t give her much time to do things that she likes to do when she plays well, felt like I controlled most of the points,” she said.

Sharapova said that she was pleased to be playing better in her last tournament before the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year.

“Coming here, I said that it was really important to play these matches,” Sharapova said.

“Obviously the more matches you play against different opponents and winning them gives you more confidence going into New York ... to be playing good tennis before New York is really important,” she said.